Hayes & Y // The Art Should Speak for Itself
Blago from Hayes & Y steps into the interview room with zero small talk and even less ego. From Slayyyter on repeat to Bulgarian folk dancing, parents as heroes and the best advice he never took — this is Cue&A with the volume turned up.
Who are you?
BlagoThis is Blago, from Hayes & Y. I sing and play guitar.
What's currently on repeat?
BlagoSlayyyter all the way! I know I'm not alone, but her new album is absolutely amazing and gets me excited to get stuff done.
Your happy place
BlagoWe loved playing Summer Well Festival in Bucharest and that's a favourite of ours. Incredible location and great people! Got to share the stage with Arctic Monkeys, which was pretty cool too.
Your hero
BlagoI feel like the people who go around their jobs and just keep the world turning are way more impressive to me than celebrities and that whole thing has never been more superficial to me, now with social media. My heroes are my parents.
If someone made a film about your life tomorrow, what's the opening scene?
BlagoWell, I'm just about to move to Paris, which is something I've been trying to do for a while — so maybe that's where it starts and then goes backwards. I do feel like I still need at least 10 more years for the really interesting part of the movie, though.
What's one small decision that completely changed the direction of your life or career?
BlagoThere were a lot of big decisions that completely changed my life and career — moving from Sofia to London being one. If I have to point to a smaller one that now feels monumental — it was deciding to never play cover songs and focus completely on originals — something which was very unusual in our local scene back then.
The Big One: if people discover your music 100 years from now, what do you hope they learn about you?
BlagoI just hope they have a dance and enjoy the melody. I'd much rather people listen to my music than know anything about me. The art should speak for itself.
Legacy
BlagoIf people don't talk about my music, I don't necessarily need them to talk about me — in fact I'd rather they didn't. I really only write music because I enjoy it very much.
The Quickfire Round
Vinyl or streaming?
BlagoVinyl.
Early set or closing set?
BlagoClosing.
Favourite takeaway?
BlagoBurger and fries.
The last song you listened to?
BlagoAcid by Ray Barretto.
One artist everyone should know about?
BlagoZvezdolet from Bulgaria.
Most overrated thing in music?
BlagoThe mastering process.
A song you wish you'd written?
BlagoSurf's Up by the Beach Boys.
Best £20 you've ever spent?
BlagoProbably some vintage shirts.
Worst advice you've ever been given?
BlagoPlay covers now and you'll get a chance to play your originals later.
Last thing you Googled?
BlagoDo men have less testosterone now.
A hill you'd die on?
BlagoEnglish and American artists are not better than the rest of the world, they just benefit from a more developed industry.
One thing your fans would never guess about you?
BlagoI used to dance Bulgarian folk dances.
Blago's whole ethos is right there in the name: let the work do the talking. Whether he's moving to Paris, refusing to play covers, or shouting out Bulgarian artists the world should know, the through-line is the same — make what you love, share it honestly, and don't let the industry convince you where the good stuff lives.
Where to find Hayes & Y
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